Merlin522

Some new pics of the mega 3.5" exhaust system.
http://stevenkamis.com/Cars/MyVette/...tatus=Series22

Rolling Thunder

Looks awesome Steve! That monster will wake up the neighbors... in the next state! :D

Dave

Merlin522

Thanks Dave! It should be interesting. Cops are just going to love me!!

KorbenDallas

Saw a camaro at a cruise-in yesterday with no hood, and a merlin engine in it. It had a sound all its own, very VERY mean! :reddevil

Merlin522

Cool! Was it carb or EFI? There are a few carb duals out there, but mine was supposedly the first EFI system in a car. Hell, it's taken so long to get the car ready, there's probably a ton of them out there. I just want to hear the thing run already!!

daniel77350

what will you do about cab heat? I know with 2.5 exhaust and no sheild it'll make you roll down the windows on a snowey day...I couldn't imagine the heat in that thing...even with the top down.

Daniel

Merlin522

Daniel- Actually, it's 3.5. I'm not sure the size of the pipe makes much of a difference in terms of heat - you are correct, it will be hot. We simply haven't gotten that far. We will definitely need to shield & insulate the heck out of the system. Heat isn't a huge issue here in Seattle, but I don't want to be getting steamed out of my own cockpit. Any suggestions from the high heat crowd on the best approach? As I said, we simply haven't gotten to that point yet so I haven't given it much thought. You are right, it will be an issue...

Monty

Merlin,

As always, very impressive.

As for the exhaust heat - a ceramic, themal coating is what i'm doing. I went with relatively heavy .065" (16 gauge) 304 stainless for the dual exhaust, and we're sending it off to Jet Hot (or the equivalent).

I don't know for sure how much if a difference it will make, but I'm hoping the thicker exhaust material and the thermal coating will make the difference.

Other than that, I've already been running a thermal barrier underlayment under my carpet.

bence13_33

Steve:
Every step of your project I find myself constantly in awe. My buddy Tim Dotts ran a 3.5" exhaust system on his 460 big block(454 + .030")...words can not describe the intense sound! When he fired that thing up, all eyes were on him and you could feel the rumbling in your chest as he passed. I found myself constantly smiling everytime he'd fire up that big block beast. That is with 460 cubic inches....the 522 is going to shake some houses for sure :yesnod:.

I can't wait to hear some sound clips of that engine running :D. You are one of a kind Steve, I commend you for that! As always, best wishes with your project. It has been a pleasure watching your project take shape (I got to witness the beginning all the way up to its current state). :cheers:

dually4wd

Looks good Steve. I have a couple of ideas on the fuel problem too. In all of our race systems, the filter goes ahead of the pump, with one size larger line than the one after the pump. Also, do you think it would help to mount the pumps horizontal so they aren't having to lift the fuel through? I'm sure you guys will get it figured out.

8TL82

You're a true pioneer Steve. I look forward to each series like most people do for the next "Survivor" episode. I suspect we'll see your project in one of the Hot Rod or Corvette magazines when your done. And if were real lucky, maybe Speedvision will do a segment so we can all see and hear what that "insane asylum" project of yours actually does.
Good luck Steve! Waiting for Series 23.

norvalwilhelm

The exhaust looks good Steve but here goes with the negative. The crossmember could have been made to go high over the exhaust. This would have made for alot simpler exhuast. I only have 3 inch but it is a straight shot off the headers. I could just as easily run 3 1/2 inch. That exhaust is a work of art with nice welds. What does the cherry bomb type canisters do? Do they quiet the exhaust down a little in future? Should I add them to my exhaust?
I also asked about the series fuel pumps in a earlier post. I can't see why you would run two high performance pumps in series? Each of these pumps are capable of putting out 45 psi so why use one to boost the other? I would run them in parallel with 2 outlets from the tank.
It is comming nice Steve and I am anxious to hear how it runs.
Good luck and please don't be offended by my remarks. I have done alot of this over the years and just want to be helpful.

This is my 3 inch under the crossmember.

SmokedTires

Steve looking at your "out of this world" fuel system, I have to say that thankfully most (99%) of us will never have to worry about having a fuel delivery problem on our vette ;) . It's obvious that building a true race car to drive relibly on the street is not only very expensive but challenging. Even with all the research you put into building this car there were many things that came up along the way that you couldn't even prepared yourself for (you've opened enough cans of worms to now be in the worm farm business :D ). Your very lucky to be having someone else tackle these problems because I don't know how many of us would still have the integrity to carry on by this point :crazy: .

The WORLD looks forward to you finishing this car ! Sure you could have bought a Lambrogini, but you chose the sexest car in the world to build, that alone says you've got world class taste ;) .

FINWOLF

steve it is allways good to see a new series it looks like soon you will be on the road keep up the good work. I know you will get the gas thing worked out just like you have done from the start .

Flareside

Looks great Steve! I love those pipes. Where are you going to run them, out the back?


[Modified by Flareside, 1:24 PM 2/13/2002]

INTIMIDATOR ZO6

:seeya As usual "Awesome Machine"...how about your personalized license plate reading "THIRSTY"! I really enjoy checking out each Series. Thanks Joe :cheers: :cool: :yesnod:

gkull

Steve - I'm with Norval the pipes should be shot strait back. I don't really see how they could go between the body floor pan and the top of the cross brace. I'd want to keep the floor as heat as far away as possible. Maybe I'm not seeing something though.

I don't remember if I told you, but my 5 point seats make you sit higher than stock so I'm considering cutting out the 2 or so inch raised floor under the drivers seat. Then making it flat for two addition inches of head room.

MassVette

Steve,
That car is BEYOND insane!!!! Lookin' GREAT!!!!

427V8

Steve, awesome machine to say the least, 3.5" exhaust it 'Beefy'! :smash:

But please please shield those fuel pumps!, use a big chunk o steel welded to the frame to protect them from the tire!

A friend of maine has a '49 Ford and he lost a tire at highway speeds, it pretty much destroyed the fender :eek: The tire came off the rim and caught the fender...

redvetracr

Merlin,
I was looking through your collection of pictures, very impressive. I am curious about a couple of things. I have read the factory Corvette frame is quite a "flexi flyer" , with all that horsepower are you planning on welding in your roll bar or adding more cage to stiffen it up? also your frame seems to lack the gussets recommended in the Chevy power manual were these left off for a reason? .....redvetracr